The annual Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association football meeting was held this week to determine area postseason honors. Marquette County schools swept the Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Lineman of the Year awards while earning eleven All-Upper Peninsula Dream Team selections.
Ishpeming earned Small School Team of the Year while head coach Jeff Olson was voted Coach of the Year as the Hematites finished the regular season unbeaten for the fifth time in ten years.
Westwood’s Sam Gilles was named both Lineman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year after recording six sacks in seven regular season games while forcing two fumbles.
Ishpeming and Westwood each landed four players on the Dream Team while Marquette added two and Gwinn had one.
Jacob Kugler and Devon Nyman represented the Hematites on offense along with Nathan Beckman and Blake Hewitt of Westwood. Gwinn lineman Eddie Chapman and Marquette receiver Ethan Martysz were both Dream Team selections as well.
Defensively, Ishpeming was represented by Hunter Smith and Logan Kruhlik while Gilles was joined by Westwood teammate Ashton Bergman. Marquette punter Drew Wyble was Marquette County’s lone selection on special teams.
2018 All-Upper Peninsula Dream Team:
Offense:
Jacob Kugler, Ishpeming, center…Eddie Chapman, Gwinn, guard…Noah Tourangeau, Escanaba, guard…Blake Hewitt, Westwood, tackle…Devon Nyman, Ishpeming, tackle…Craig Kamin, Escanaba, quarterback…Nathan Beckman, Westwood, runningback…Luke Terrian, Kingsford, runningback…Tate Kay, Sault Saint Marie, runningback…Ethan Martysz, Marquette, end/receiver…Jared Nash, Escanaba end/receiver
Defense:
Bryant Schram, West Iron County, tackle…Reid Marshall, St. Ignace, tackle…Alex Studebaker, Calumet, tackle…Sam Gilles, Westwood, end…Logan Kruhlik, Ishpeming, end…Ashton Bergman, Westwood, linebacker…Anthony Mattson, Munising, linebacker…Trevor Hendrickson, Calumet, linebacker…Hunter Smith, Ishpeming, defensive back…Christer Carne, Escanaba, defensive back…Brent Loukus, Calumet, defensive back
Special Teams:
Shawn Sandahl, Menominee, kicker…Drew Wyble, Marquette, punter…Carter Crouch, Lake Linden-Hubbell, returner